N O T E B O O K

Mapping Lab:
Canada and the United States
M A K I N G A M E N TA L M A P

1. Draw an outline map of Canada and the United States on the next page. Then draw and label
these features where you think they are located:
• the Arctic Circle
• two large bodies of water that are not oceans
• a mountain range
• a large river
• the political boundaries of the two countries in the region
• political boundaries for any states, provinces, or territories you think you know

2. Revise this mental map at the end of the Mapping Lab. Follow these steps to analyze your
mental map:
• Use one color to highlight or circle at least three details that were correct or fairly
accurate.
• Use another to highlight or circle at least three details that were inaccurate. Correct those
items.
• Use a third to add at least three new items.
• At least one item should represent information about physical geography, and at least one
should represent information about human geography.

Answers may vary.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute 70 Canada and the United States 21

N O T E B O O K

Canada and the United States

22 Canada and the United States 71 © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

 N O T E B O O K

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

1. Read the Introduction to Physical Geography of the region.

Write some questions you have about physical geography of this region. As you read through
the sections on the physical geography, come back here to add more questions.
Answers will vary. Students may ask: Does climate have an effect on population
density? Do Canada and the United States produce similar crops? What food staples
were used during the colonial period for both countries? What are some major products
the United States and Canada trade between each other under NAFTA?

Answers will vary. Students may

choose these sentences from the text:
2. Read the sections on physical geography. After you read each section:
• find the matching thematic map in the table.
• write two or more sentences in the reading with information represented in the map.

Section Map Two or more sentences graphically represented on the map

• Mountains run along both sides of the continent, with a

large, flat area in the center that runs from the Arctic Ocean
Physical to the Gulf of Mexico.
Physical
Geography • A large system of rivers drains most of the plains between
Features
Map the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians.

• The northern parts of this landmass fall in tundra and subarctic

climate zones.
• The climate in the continental United States can vary greatly
depending on where you are.
Climate Climate Map
• The Southeast has a humid subtropical climate, the Southwest
has arid and semiarid climates, the Sierra Nevada and Rocky
Mountains have a highlands climate, and most of the Midwest and
Northeast have a humid continental climate.
• The tundra spreads across the far northern islands and
coasts of Canada.
• The warmer climate in southeastern Canada supports mixed
Vegetation
Vegetation forest.
Map
• The vegetation of the continental United States ranges
from tropical palms to desert sagebrush.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute 72 Canada and the United States 23

N O T E B O O K

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

1. Read the Introduction to Human Geography of the region.

Write some questions you have about human geography of this region. As you read through
the sections on the human geography, come back here to add more questions.

Answers will vary. Students may ask: What different ethnic groups are in both
Canada and the United States? What is the predominant religion in both countries?

Answers will vary. Students may

choose these sentences from the text:
2. Read the sections on human geography. After you read each section:
• find the matching thematic map or graphic in the table.
• write two or more sentences in the reading with information represented in the map.

Section Map/Graphic Two or more sentences graphically represented on the map

• North American history began when bands of hunters

migrated to Alaska from Asia.
• Canada was first colonized by the French, but in 1867, they
History Timeline won the right to govern themselves.
• Today, Canada and the United States are closely linked by
trade and as a result, in 1994, the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect.
• Northern Canada is thinly settled, with a population density
as low as one person per 25 square miles.
• Most Canadians live close to the U.S. border.
Population
Density Map • Throughout the region, people tend to cluster in or near
Population
cities, where more jobs can be found.

• Commercial farming is an important economic activity in

this region.
• Oil and coal, used for energy, are the most important mineral
Economic Economic
Activity Activity Map
resources.
• Texas, Alaska, and Alberta have thriving oil industries.
• Trade and manufacturing are strong in the urban centers of
this region.

24 Canada and the United States 73 © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

 N O T E B O O K

GEOGRAPHY CHALLENGE 1

Part A: Locate Physical Features of Canada and the United States

Use the coordinates to locate and label each feature. Make sure it is clear where each feature is.

1. Rocky Mountains (45°N, 110°W) 6. Canadian Shield (55°N, 90°W)

2. Arctic Ocean (80°N, 140°W) 7. Great Plains (45°N, 105°W)
3. Appalachian Mountains (40°N, 77°W) 8. Atlantic Ocean (35°N, 70°W)
4. Pacific Ocean (40°N, 130°W) 9. Mississippi River (35°N, 90°W)

rcle
70ºN
Arctic Ci

70ºN
80ºN
80ºN

Arctic Ci
5. Colorado River (35°N, 115°W) 10. Great Basin (38°N, 115°W)
rc

170ºE 10ºW
le
60ºN

20ºW
180º

30ºW

N
60º
170ºW

40ºW

160ºW

50
ºN
50ºW
ºN
50
150ºW

40
ºN
60ºW
ºN
40

140ºW

30º
N
N
30º

N
Tro W
pic
of C
anc E cer
er Can
S pi c of
Tro
20º
N
20ºN

70ºW

0 500 1,000 miles

70ºW
0 500 1,000 kilometers
10ºN Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

130ºW 120ºW 110ºW 100ºW 90ºW 80ºW 10ºN

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute 74 Canada and the United States 25

TCI5 426
North America Physical
GA_LM_02-[Link]
N O T E B O O K

Part B: Locate States, Provinces, and Territories in Canada and the United States

Use the coordinates to locate and label each place. Make sure it is clear where each place is.

1. Michigan (45°N, 85°W) 6. Ontario (50°N, 85°W)

2. British Columbia (55°N, 125°W) 7. California (35°N, 120°W)
3. New York (43°N, 75°W) 8. Nunavut (65°N, 100°W)
4. Montana (47°N, 110°W) 9. Prince Edward Island (46°N, 63°W)
5. Oregon (45°N, 120°W) 10. Alberta (55°N, 115°W)

rcle
Arctic Ci

70ºN

70ºN
80ºN
80ºN

Arctic Ci
rc

10ºW
le

170ºE
60ºN

ARCTIC OC E A N

20ºW
180º

30ºW

N
60º
170ºW

40ºW

160ºW Yukon
Territory

Northwest Territories
Newfoundland
50 and Labrador
ºN
50ºW
ºN
50
150ºW
CANADA
Manitoba Quebec
Saskatchewan

New
Brunswick

40 Washington Vermont Maine

ºN 60ºW
North Minnesota Nova Scotia
Dakota 0ºN
New Hampshire 4
Wisconsin
Idaho South Rhode Island
Dakota
Wyoming Connecticut
140ºW Pennsylvania New Jersey
P A C I F I C Iowa Ohio
Nebraska Delaware
Indiana
Nevada U N I T E D S T A T E S Illinois West
Virginia
Maryland
O C E A N Utah
Colorado Virginia Washington, D.C.
Kansas Kentucky
Missouri North
30º Carolina
N
Tennessee South N
Oklahoma Carolina 30º
New Arkansas Alabama
Mexico

Mississippi AT L A N T I C
N Texas
Louisiana OCEAN
Tro W
pic
of C E r
anc nce
er f Ca
S p ic o
Tro
20º
N
N
20º

70ºW

0 500 1,000 miles

70ºW
0 500 1,000 kilometers
10º Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
N
130ºW 120ºW 110ºW 100ºW 90ºW 80ºW 10ºN

26TCI5C a427
nada and the United States 75 © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
GA_LM_02-[Link]
Third proof
 N O T E B O O K

GEOGRAPHY CHALLENGE 2

Use the thematic maps to answer the questions. For each question,
• write your answer.
• record the thematic maps you used.

Question Answer Maps Used

The northeastern coast of Population Density

1. What is the largest area in the United States is the
Canada and the United States largest densely populated
that is densely populated (over area in this region. It includes
250 people per square mile)? Boston, New York City,
What are four cities in that area? Philadelphia, and Washington,
D.C.
California is the state Climate Zones
2. In which state in the United that has arid, semiarid,
States can you find all of the Mediterranean, highlands,
following climates: arid, semiarid, and marine west coast
Mediterranean, highlands, and climates.
marine west coast?

Petroleum (oil) is the Economic Activity

3. Which resource is most abundant resource that is most
in Texas, Alaska, and Alberta? abundant in Texas, Alaska,
Which state or province appears and Alberta. Texas
to have the most of that appears to have the most
resource? of this resource.
Alaska, Yukon Territory, Climate Zone
4. Which four territories and states Northwest Territories, and
have both a subarctic and a Nunavut all have subarctic
tundra climate and include land and tundra climates and
that is both north and south of include land that is both
the Arctic Circle? north and south of the
Arctic Circle.
Temperate grassland is Temperate Grassland
5. What is the most common type of the most common type of
vegetation in the central area of vegetation in the central
southern Canada and the United area of southern Canada
States? Which country has more and the United States. The
land with that type of vegetation? United States has more land
with temperate grasslands.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute 76 Canada and the United States 27

N O T E B O O K

Question Answer Maps Used

Forestry, trade and Economic Activity

manufacturing, commercial
6. What types of land use occur farming, and commercial
along both the Pacific Coast and fishing occur along both the
the Atlantic Coast of Canada and Pacific and Atlantic Coasts
the United States?
of Canada and the United
States.
The Great Lakes (Lake Physical Features
Superior, Lake Michigan,
7. Which five lakes together make Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and
up the largest body of fresh water Lake Ontario) make up
in Canada and the United States? the largest body of fresh
water in North America.
California has several mild climate zones, Climate Zones, Economic
so it is mostly warm year-round. California
8. California is the most populated also has a variety of economic activities Activity
(trade and manufacturing, farming,
state in this region. Nunavut fishing, and livestock raising). Both
is the least populated. How do factors might attract a large population.
climate and economic activity Nunavut, on the other hand, is very cold,
with subarctic and tundra climates. There
help explain why this is the case? is little work for people, since the land is
used mainly for hunting and gathering.

9. Name three states, provinces, Most hydroelectric power Physical Features,

or territories that produce in Canada and the United Economic Activity
more hydroelectric power than States is produced in
other places in the region. Washington, British Columbia,
What physical feature in these and Quebec. All three states
places might help explain why and provinces have rivers
hydroelectric power is a resource where dams can be built to
there? produce power.
The farmer likely lives near Physical Features, Climate
10. A farmer grows sugarcane, a crop
New Orleans, which has a Zones, Vegetation Zones,
that does well only in a humid
subtropical climate with other humid subtropical climate Population Density
tropical grassland vegetation. and tropical grassland for
In his free time, he loves to growing warm-weather crops
go sailing on the ocean year- like sugarcane. New Orleans
round. His farm is near a densely is a densely populated city
populated city that lies on a on the Mississippi River, near
very large river. Where does the the Gulf of Mexico, where a
farmer live? Why do you think so? person can sail year-round.

28 Canada and the United States 77 © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

 N O T E B O O K

GEOGRAPHY CHALLENGE 3

1. Mark locations A, B, and C on the map.

• Location A (40° north, 74° west)
• Location B (76° north, 80° west)
• Location C (60° north, 147° west)

rcle
70ºN
Arctic Ci

70ºN
80ºN
80ºN

Arctic Ci
rc

170ºE 10ºW
le
60ºN

20ºW
180º

30ºW
Location B

N
60º
170ºW

40ºW

160ºW

Location C
50
ºN
50ºW
ºN
50
150ºW

40
ºN
60ºW

Location A 40
ºN

140ºW

30º
N
N
30º

N
Tro W
pic
of C E er
anc anc
er of C
S pic
Tro
20º
N
20ºN

70ºW

0 500 1,000 miles

70ºW
0 500 1,000 kilometers
10ºN Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

130ºW 120ºW 110ºW 100ºW 90ºW 80ºW 10ºN

TCI5 426
North America Physical
©GA_LM_02-[Link]
Teachers’ Curriculum Institute 78 Canada and the United States 29
Second proof
N O T E B O O K

2. Use the thematic maps to write as much information as possible about the three locations.

Thematic Location A Location B Location C

Map (40° north, 74° west) (76° north, 80° west) (60° north, 147° west)
• located on New Jersey • located on Ellesmere Island • located near an island in
coast • located on Baffin Bay, inside the Gulf of Alaska
• located on flat coastal plain the Arctic Circle • surrounded by the Alaska
along the Atlantic Ocean • mountainous area, with Range
Physical
• elevation between 0 and elevation between 2,001 • elevation between 0 and
Features
1,000 feet above sea level and 5,000 feet above sea 1,000 feet above sea level
level

located in humid subtropical located in tundra climate located in subarctic

climate zone zone climate

Climate
Zones

located in coniferous forest located in ice cap located in coniferous

vegetation zone vegetation zone forest vegetation zone,
surrounded by ice cap zone
Vegetation
Zones

• population density over • population density under 2 • population density under 2

250 people per square mile people per square mile people per square mile
• large urban centers nearby • no urban centers nearby • no urban centers nearby
(New York City, Philadelphia,
Population
Washington, D.C.)
Density

• trade and manufacturing little or no economic • hunting and gathering

• commercial fishing along the activity • petroleum nearby
coast • forestry nearby
Economic
Activity

30 Canada and the United States 79 © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute